Pace of country’s development increased in last 4 years : Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the country witnessed development on all fronts at a faster pace in the past four years during the BJP-led NDA government in comparison to previous 67 years because the previous governments had “lack of intent”.

Addressing the Jagran Forum in the capital, Mr Modi said, ‘I want to raise a question from this forum: what was the reason that our country did not develop at a fast pace despite having hardworking youth, big land and rich resources.’

He said the reason behind the slow growth of the country was that previous governments had “lack of intent and lack of work culture’.

Citing the instance of rail connectivity, the Prime Minister said Meghalaya for the first time

has been linked to rail route during his tenure.

‘Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Tripura were not on the railways route before we (BJP-led NDA government) came to power,’ the Prime Minister said.

‘See, how the country is moving forward now,’ Mr Modi said.

He said today’s youth is considering itself as a stakeholder in development and people are having faith on the Government and the system.

‘Our country has witnessed “unprecedented progress” in every field in past 4.5 years,’ the Prime Minister said.

Mr Modi said media has played constructive role in making the flagship schemes of the government such as ‘Swachh Bharat Mission’ and ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ as Jan Andolan (mass movement).

He said in coming time, the role of the media will become more important in society.

The Prime Minister asserted that India was now being looked upon as ‘a nation of possibilities’ where ‘next-generation infrastructures are being prepared’.

He praised his government’s efforts to provide gas connections, build roads and open bank accounts for the deprived sections, ruing why these had not been done in the previous 67 years.

The Prime Minister said previously there had been 55 per cent gas connection, while there was 90 per cent in the past four years since his government came to power, ‘Think, for 67 years, only 70 per cent of the population had power. Now in four years, 95 per cent of villages have electrification.’

Stating that there had been major progress in the past four years since his government came to office, Mr Modi said earlier only 50 per cent of the population had bank accounts, today almost every family was linked with a bank account.

He also took a swipe at previous dispensations for the country’s laggardly pace of development, saying ‘lot of people with big names and surnames have come and gone.’

Crediting Dainik Jagran on completion of 75 years of publication, the PM said it had ‘played an important role in the reconstruction of the country’, and the newspaper was now playing a ‘significant role’ in raising awareness in the country.

‘The work you started in the background of the Quit India Movement today is now seen in collaborating on New India’s new expectations.’